I sit in front of computer lazily pressing keys in boredom.
"This one also has reached a bad end"
The last week, I bought this game - "Clumsy Heroines can only fall into a pit" from a store providing 60% discount on first purchase.
The total gametime is expected to be around 90-95 hours. So, except for taking some break for my necessary daily routine, I spent most of my time playing it.
Probably, because I also didn't managed to get enough sleep last night, my eyes have dark circles around it making me look like a distant relative of the sacred beast, the legendary Panda.
But who can I blame for it ? The game that has such long quest line with no actual character improvement or power ups. As the title suggests, the protagonist of the story aren't one but several female leads and all of them extremely talented in various fields. A princess knight, A countryside Sage, A Magic Prodigy, A Saintess etc..
Almost all of them are playable characters after fulfilling the mandatory requirements to change characters.
The story for whom didn't differ much from each other. At the start they would recieve Goddess Grace's to awaken the mythical profession, "The hero" and would transform into warrior of lights to fight the forces of darkness who are trying to break free from the underworld seal, pretty much like a power ranger or magical girl storyline in old TV shows.
However, I have plenty of similar games in my shelf. What makes this game truly interesting is it's unique gameplay where the Heroines can't win most of the time. There are times, when they are either besieged by a ridiculously strong enemies or the people around following them choses to betray for personal gains.
The various female leads are also in conflict due to the "The hero" occupation constantly causing chaos among them. As there can be only one "Hero" at a given point of time and the increase in number of the said occupation will divide the divine grace's ability instead of strengthening them all.
To make the matter worst, the companion of various heroines are also enemies of life and death. At crucial times, they often fight between themselves and hinder the ongoing battles. The result does not need to be explain. Most of warrior who went to fought the forces of darkness died before seeing their opponent's shadow.
The further the game progresses, the more such incidents continues to happen. From one heroine to another heroine dying in middle to them falling in the traps laid by servants of darkness. The latter often either ended up being losing her mind and spirit broken or they too will join darkness, becoming it's pawn to destroy the world.
Alas, if only there was a male protagonist, such things could have been changed or to say, it would only become worse because, Darkness wouldn't give up on devouring even a single Heroines, either by physical observations or corruption. So, having male protagonist would make it more like a cuckold story. Also known as "NTR" play.
Not to mention, the ending of the all possible route in game follow this method. The strongest heroine (depending on who your choice is ) is also among few survivors challenged the servants of darkness for one last time. The battle took places on the ruins of a church in the fallen Kingdom of ancients. The servants were cornered at the end of battle but somehow Darkness partially broke free from the seal and attacked the heroine, making her immobile for the rest of her life.
Two days later, the ceremony for complete summon of darkness was also held by sacrificing the lives of 100 million people in various towns and cities. And when the darkness descended on the mortal plains, the world literally reached an end. The Gods can't let such calamity to exist. So, the world was destroyed and everything was reset to the beginning.
And personally, I don't like this ending. Because from the first playable heroine to all mythical and hidden characters, no one was able to alter this one and only end. Everything is basically in a loop except the playable character changes each time.
"Maybe, I should try one last time or *yawn let's forget about it..."
I opened the developer's website from web address given on game CD.
"It would be better if there was a character to rival darkness, all these female are too weak to defend the world"
I gave an honest review under the specific game's column.
*Ting
< Do you also think so ? >
The developer replied to my comment..That was surprisingly fast.
'Holy moly, is this guy so free to answer a jobless guy within 2 seconds.'
No wonder, the storyline was so messed up. This guy is not putting enough efforts into his work but rather surfing internet like me. For information, I am surfing internet because I am a game critic. And in the last 15 years most of the newly launched RPG games are first reviewed by me.
I bought this one with the same intention but I think I would refrain from doing so in the future. The money I earn as a critic is not much as before. The Smartphone has made it convenient to download and play games. So do the number of people giving free reviews and advice had increased. People like me who has used to make a living by providing cheat codes and breakthrough on sites like reddit have run out of income source.
"Yes, That's what makes the RPG style game truly nostalgic. The hero always had a hidden ability within him, which plays the major role in defeating the final boss. But in the case of "Clumsy Heroine can only fall into a pit" None of the heroines actually had a chance to rival darkness's servants let alone the completed darkness has almost reached the realm similar to a God..No, he has already become a demon God."
< I see. That's what I was lacking all this time. For helping me this once, How about it you become the beta tester for the game's unreleased version, Can you ? >
"It would be my pleasure....*Ahemm"
I replied and my eyes become drowsy, gaming all night had made me truly tired. I think I will chat with this developer person in the evening. For now, lets sleep.
I turned off my old computer screen and laid on the nearby futon..With my closed eyes, I dreamt of my ex-girlfriend. She was truly gorgeous, just like a fairy. As gentle as the water and as strict as my school principal. I wanted to go back to her...Wait, she is married.
'Her children has also entered adolescent, I can't enter her life any further. I am sad..(+-+)'
I murmured before my sleep deepened.
Because of being in a deep sleep, I couldn't tell the anomaly in my surroundings.
The black monitor screen lighten up on its own with a notification.
< The Heroine 2.0 will be updated in 10 hours. Time remaining : 9• 59 • 56 >
...
It was late at night when I entered apartment's rooftop for some post meal walk. Usually I would visit a nearby park but today for some reason, the lift in my apartment building has started to malfunction. My old back really can't walk down all 300+ stairs but daily exercise is also necessary And because I happened to live on 24th floor, just two floor below the rooftop. I decided to try a new experience.
"It has been a while since I came here"
Well, my Ex-girlfriend and I used to live in the same building at rent and after doing daily chores, the two of us would sneak here. We could meet in our own respective apartments but that only happened when my roommate got a job in another metropolitan city and her cousin left after getting married.
"That was such a sweet time, Minerva. But, why did you left me alone ? And you even refused to answer the reason for our break up."
I remembered the blonde hair beauty with an almost perfect body structure and noble temper.
This brings back bad memories. Maybe, I should haven't visited here in the first place.
I decided to go back as I turn around the staircase but at this time, an unexpected thing happened. At the edge of balcony stood a girl 16-17 years old. She wore fancy clothes like some kind of cosplay for noble warriors. Her face was steamed with tears, her breathing was shallow and one could hear her crying in a low voice.
No way.....was this child trying to suicide ? But why ? Was she rejected by her crush ? Got failed in an important exam or probably some ugly old dude was harrassing her on way back home.
Nevertheless whatever was the reason behind it, I should first stop her before it's too late. Should I act like an acquaintance ? Let's try that first.
"This beautiful lady so, you were here. Your father was searching for you downstairs."
"Have you seen my father ? But I never meet him"
So, she grew up in a single parent household... wait a second, the young girl looked at me with fiery eyes, her tears have already covered her face as her cry grew louder. She was expecting someone to came to her rescue, somebody who would console her and would hold in her his embrace. Maybe a prince charming or it could be a brother, father or friend. But out of all things I could have said, I touched her sensitive spot. If anything happened to this young life, wouldn't that make me an eternal sinner ?
"Noo....what I mean is I AM YOUR FATHER. Daughter, long time no see. I could not meet you before for some reason but since you have found me, I wouldn't shrink back from my responsibility..Let's go back home, Our home..."
"...."
I tried to repeat an emotional dialogue from a game I played long ago. With my face alone, a sincere expression could not be meet but my emotional voice played a good role and almost fooled her. That's right, I am not her father. But, I am provoking her to vent out on me. This way she will temporarily forget whatever was troubling her and that would help in rejecting suicidal tendencies. I am a fucking genius, ain't am I ?
However, what happened next was partially out of my expectations. She wiped her tears with sleeve and opening her hands wide, shouted in my direction.
"Papa, I really miss you. Hug me"
This child seems too easy to fool. Didn't her mother taught her that you can't casually recognise a stranger as your father.